Argentina's Angel di Maria celebrates after scoring his side's only and winning goal in extra time during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Switzerland at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday. Argentina defeated Switzerland 1-0 to move on to the quarterfinals. (Manu Fernandez/AP)

Manchester United has completed the signing of Real Madrid ace Angel Di Maria, who becomes the most expensive signing in Premier League history.

The Argentina international, who can play across the front line and in midfield, moves to Old Trafford in a deal worth 59.7 million pounds and is now the fifth costliest player ever.

The 26-year-old, who United hopes can galvanize a squad that has picked up just a single point from its opening two league matches, has signed a five-year contract worth close to the £300,000-a-week earned by skipper Wayne Rooney.

Including wages, add ons, bonuses and signing-on fees, the total cost of the deal could rise to as much as £150 million.

Di Maria completed his medical on Tuesday having arrived at Carrington with his entourage late in the morning, while his agent had several hours of sit-down talks with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward in the afternoon to thrash out the final details of the contract.

The 20-time English champion has been chasing Di Maria for several weeks and was given a free run at the Argentine when Paris Saint-Germain pulled out of the race for his signature.

He has been itching for a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu since the arrivals of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos shunted him down the Madrid pecking order, and was understood to be very keen on working with Louis van Gaal.

Di Maria played a key role for Los Blancos last season as they lifted the Champions League, while he recorded a division-high 17 assists in La Liga before finishing as a runner up at the World Cup in Brazil.

The big-money deal takes United's summer spending to in excess of £130 million, meaning the club has now spent more than any other club in the world this summer, eclipsing Barcelona's £120 million outlay.

The team may not be finished there either, with a shaky and dysfunctional defense likely to be reinforced by the possible arrival of Ajax's Daley Blind, while Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal remains a long-term target.